Journal of Translational Science Review Article ISSN: 2059-268X Immunization: A promising future Laura Buehning1* and Isaac Golden2 1Researcher, Private Practice in Bioenergetic Medicine, USA 2Researcher, Private Practice in Homeopathy, Australia Abstract Immunization is an important aspect of global public health. The vaccine industry is presently undergoing rapid expansion and dynamic changes. The public health considerations for the provision of vaccines to the global population is becoming more challenging as a result of this increase in the scope and complexity of vaccines. Seasonal influenza is a significant global public health challenge due to annual seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. Vaccination is the cornerstone of influenza prevention and control of epidemics, however vaccine effectiveness is suboptimal with a significant factor being the frequent genetic shift and drift of multiple different virus strains. There is an alternative method for disease-specific immunization known as homeoprophylaxis. Homeoprophylaxis is based on the science of homeopathy. Homeopathy is a comprehensive and holistic therapeutic system that was founded in the late 1700’s and has been used globally for over 200 years. Research supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of homeopathy has increased significantly. Homeopathy is progressively receiving scientific validation and greater acceptance due to the documentation of significant clinical research outcomes as well as the evolving understanding of physics, chemistry, nanoparticles and biomedicine. A recent systematic review of physicochemical research of homeopathic mechanisms revealed multiple publications documenting the physical changes induced by homeopathic medicines. Advances in the fields of systems theory and complex systems biology are also contributing to a greater acceptance and understanding of homeopathy. Bioenergetic medicine is another growing field whose advancing knowledge is supportive of homeopathy. Studies of homeoprophylaxis in multiple different infectious diseases have shown it to be comparably effective to vaccination and without toxicity. This paper discusses the state of research in homeoprophylaxis in both epidemics and as well long-term endemic disease control with a particular emphasis on the prevention and management of influenza-like illnesses. Abbreviations and symbols: WHO: World Health Organization; The public health consideration for the provision of vaccines GVAP: Global Vaccine Action Plan; US: United States; HIV: Human to the global population is becoming more challenging as a result of Immunodeficiency Virus; DTP: Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis; DNA: this increase in the scope and complexity of vaccines [4-8,10,11]. Deoxyribonucleic Acid; RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial; NHMRC: The scope of active immunization has broadened to include vaccines National Health and Medical; Research Council (Australia); GE: Genus for infectious diseases that require cellular immune responses for Epidemicus effectiveness, such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, and HIV, as well as noninfectious conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases Introduction [4,5,11-14]. Vaccines have also been developed more recently for less Immunization is an important aspect of global public health. virulent pathogens such as varicella, herpes simplex virus and rotavirus Established in 1974, the global vaccination program is developed and [15]. Vaccine development has also become more complex. There are monitored through the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Vaccines many new ways to formulate vaccines, including gene-based vaccines, and Immunization Programme [1]. The Global Vaccine Action Plan virus-like particles, plant-derived vaccines as well as novel adjuvants and delivery systems [5,7]. These multifaceted changes are leading to (GVAP) [2] is a policy framework developed by the World Health increasingly complex manufacturing and regulatory processes with Assembly in 2012 in order to achieve their vision of the Decade of attendant increases in research, development and production costs Vaccines (2011 – 2020) to provide universal access to immunization [4,5,7]. As these new vaccines become available and underutilized [3]. vaccines are administered more extensively, the already burdened Immunization is considered to be one of the most cost-effective supply and logistics systems are being further challenged [4,5,7,10]. interventions in public health and the GVAP recognizes vaccines as a With the continued addition of new vaccines, both the adult and the core component of the human right to health [2]. The vaccine industry is presently undergoing rapid expansion and dynamic changes [4-8]. From the years 2000 to 2008, the global vaccine market almost tripled, *Correspondence to: Laura Buehning, 4015 Carmel View Road #184, San Diego, reaching over 17 billion US dollars in global revenue, making the CA 92130, USA, Tel: 858-299-9130; E-mail: [email protected] vaccine industry one of the fastest growing economic industries [4]. Key words: homeopathy, homeoprophylaxis, vaccination, global vaccine action This growth has continued with the global vaccine market reaching plan, influenza, meningitis, japanese encephalitis, leptospirosis, dengue, public 32 billion US dollars in 2014 and the expectation of over 59 billion by health, childhood endemic diseases, biophysics, physicochemical research, systems the year 2020 [9]. This increase in the availability of new vaccines has theory, nanoparticles, high-dilution pharmacology, bioenergetics, biophotons, resulted from the development of innovative manufacturing technology, electromagnetics an increase in public-private product development partnerships, and Received: February 04, 2019; Accepted: February 20, 2019; Published: February the creation of new funding resources and mechanisms [4,5]. 25, 2019 J Transl Sci, 2019 doi: 10.15761/JTS.1000320 Volume 5: 1-8 Buehning L (2019) Immunization: A promising future pediatric immunization schedules have increased significantly, and this This has led to efforts to create a universal influenza vaccine that would has resulted in the need to administer multiple vaccines simultaneously provide immunological protection again all influenza virus subtypes [16]. The pace of this change has not allowed for adequate post- [23,26,30]. Present methodologies being used to address this issue marketing safety and effectiveness evaluation [16-18]. This has led to a include virus-like particles, T-cell-inducing peptides, recombinant questioning of vaccination schedules and policies by many individuals proteins, synthetic viruses, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and nucleic [16,19-21]. Of significant concern is a 2017 observational study, which acid and viral vector vaccines [24,30]. These novel platforms of vaccine showed a 5-fold higher mortality among children receiving the DTP development are currently in early clinical development [24]. vaccine than in the unvaccinated [16]. They noted that presently there is no prospective study showing a beneficial survival effect of DTP Evidence for homeopathy versus conventional medicine vaccination. This is particularly relevant because DTP is the most widely Our present global immunization program is based on vaccination. used vaccine globally [22] and it is used as a performance indicator for As has been discussed, these vaccines are complex biological agents national vaccination programs [16]. that may include adjuvants, preservatives, genetic engineering, foreign Influenza proteins and DNA as well as possible infectious contaminants [7]. Research and development of these biological agents are costly and Seasonal influenza is a significant global public health challenge time-consuming. due to annual seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. Each year, approximately 10 to 20% of the world’s population is affected with There is, however, an alternative method for disease-specific influenza creating a significant economic and societal burden [23]. immunization known as homeoprophylaxis. Homeoprophylaxis is This illness is caused by a group of viruses that circulate globally and based on the science of homeopathy. Homeopathy is a comprehensive spread easily from person to person [24]. Worldwide, these annual and holistic therapeutic system that was founded in the late 1700’s and epidemics are estimated to result in between 3 to 5 million cases has been used globally for over 200 years [31]. Although homeopathy of severe illness, and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths per year [25]. The was a popular form of medicine in the 1800’s and up until the early impact of these infections, however, increases significantly with the 1900’s [32], it was replaced by pharmaceutical medications with the emergence of more virulent strains of the viruses during pandemics development of that industry and the reliance on the biochemical [24]. These pandemics occur because influenza viruses are constantly paradigm. More recently, homeopathy has seen a resurgence of interest evolving through genomic mutation and rearrangement [24]. The and use with the growth of complementary and alternative medicine challenge in managing and preventing these inflections is due to the [33], especially in Europe, Asia and Latin America [31]. Homeopathy rapidity in which these viruses can evolve and therefore evade the host’s has been integrated into the national health care systems of many of immune system or develop resistance to drug therapy. The evolution these countries and often the legal standing